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Lysanders N7791 and N7791...

Posted by Steve T on Sat Nov 22, 2003 08:15:22 PM

In reply top Re: ... I think so posted by Yak 11 Fan on Sat Nov 22, 2003 04:10:46 PM

: Is RCAF2346 not the one that was with the USAF Museum whic
: h flew for a time in the 70's as N7791?

Kenneth et al--

These two Lizzies have been the source of considerable confusion because they've both worn the "RAF" serial N7791.
(I hope there isn't now a third N7791 in the mix!)

The ex-USAFM example (now at NASM) was recovered from the Ernie Simmons collection circa 1970 and restored and flown by Dwight Brooks in the USA as N7791--a US civil registration that doubled nicely as an RAF serial number.

The other N7791 was a static-display airframe, incorporating a number of non-original parts, which was on show for a number of years at the BCATP Museum in Brandon, Manitoba. Why the same "serial" as the Brooks machine was applied to this one I don't know, especially since N7791 was not an RCAF serial...but the waters certainly got muddied thereby! Anyway, the Brandon Lizzie was offered for sale quite a while back and my guess (not having seen a pic) is that it was in fact sold, to a European buyer, and this is it...for sale yet again.

Further on Lizzies, the engine and prop are on the CWH one (2363) now; wings are finished in TT stripes (rather than the originally-intended SOE black) and a volunteer at the museum told me it could fly in as little as 18 months.
Now that should be quite the hit locally...

S.

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